Ribbons of Steel

by Carol Henry

  “I see. You haven’t asked for her hand yet, but you’re going to court her.”

  “Anna Louise also took her exams and will be going to Normal School with Catherine to become a teacher. She needs time to concentrate on her studies. Just like Catherine.”

  Charley held his tongue. Things sure had changed since he’d courted Emily.

  “Did I mention that Timothy has been my right-hand man, Pa? He’s learned a lot about farming, especially the dairy end of things. We bought a couple of heifers to get him started, but he has a long way to go. He thinks we should switch everything over to dairy.”

  “Isn’t the goat dairy prospering?” Charley asked.

  “They are. But he’s more interested in dairy cows. We’ve added to the herd, started out small to see how things go. The Agriculture Society has done research and suggests that’s the way to go in this area. Hey, did I tell you Sarah is walking now?”

  “I’ll be,” Charley exclaimed. “Bet she’s a handful. Giving Mrs. Flanagan and Catherine a hard time keeping track of her.”

  “She got out in the yard the other day and started chasing the chickens until one of the geese spotted her and started chasing her,” Seth said. “She’d like to have screamed the house down.”

  “She’s not even a year old. How can she be walking already?”

  “Everyone has been too busy to carry her around, so she just up and started walking all on her own. She whistles a lot, too.”

  “Well, I’ll be. What about Michael and Robert? How’re they doing?”

  “They’re holding their own. Mrs. Flanagan spoils them, even though they mind her. They gather eggs, feed the chickens and pigs, and even carry wood in for the stove. She’s got everyone doing things right on schedule.”

  “That’s my Maggie,” Seamus interjected. “Always likes to keep things in order and on time, she does.”

  Seth gave the reins a snap and yelled “gee.” The horses and wagon turned onto their road. Before long they were in front of the kitchen door.

  The screen door banged open against the outside of the house and Maggie ran out to meet Seamus; Madeline close on her heels.

  “Seamus. Oh, Seamus.” Tears rolled down her cheeks. She ran to him, arms outstretched. Seamus jumped from the wagon and met her across the yard. Enveloping her in his arms, he lifted her off the ground and twirled her around. Setting her back down, he kissed her long and hard.

  “Awww, Maggie, my love, I’ve missed ya. I ain’t been the same since you left me, I haven’t.”

  Seamus held her face between his hands, kissed her forehead, then looked into her smiling Irish eyes. “And who have we here behind you? That can’t be my Madeline, now can it? You’ve grown since I’ve seen ya last, lass. What a fine lady you’ve become.”

  “It’s only been a couple months, Pa. I haven’t had time to grow.” Madeline giggled and then ran into his arms and hugged her father. Seamus kissed the top of her strawberry blonde head.

  “Well, then. You’ve blossomed into a fine young lady. Come, you can tell me all about your summer here on the farm.”

  “I want to hear about you and the strike,” Maggie said as they linked arms and headed toward the house, Madeline in tow.

  “It’s over. Best forgotten,” Seamus told her. “We’re making a new start and a new life right here in Candor.”

  Seamus’ smile grabbed at Charley’s chest. He beamed at the happy reunion and thought of Emily.

  He spotted his own children lined up along the railing on the front porch, baby Sarah in Catherine’s arms. How to approach them? How to break the news? He wondered what their reaction would be. Hell, it was easier dealing with a bunch of railroad workers than his own children. Even speaking to Mason Aderley and Tom Scott had been a breeze compared to showing his love for this brood of kids living in his house. Being away and visiting home sporadically was no way to live, thanks to the railroad.

  No more.

  His family stared back at him as if he were a stranger. Starting today, right now, his family was gonna come first. Not the railroad.

  Charley inched his way to the porch and stopped at the bottom steps, his worn work boot tapped the paint-chipped wooden boards.

  “Children,” he said, nodding in their direction. “I know I haven’t been much of a father over the years, but I aim to change all that now. I’ve quit the rails in Philadelphia. How would you all like to ride the train out west to be with your mother? She’ll be real pleased to see all of you, no doubt.”

  Michael and Robert jumped up and down clapping their hands. “We get to ride a train? Oh boy, oh boy. When do we go, Pa?”

  “The end of the week,” Charley said. His insides warmed at their excitement.

  He couldn’t remember when he’d felt so good inside—not since before he’d sent Emily west. When was the last time he’d seen his boys so excited about anything? He wiped the corner of his eye with a shaky finger. He had missed so much.

  Catherine was the first one off the porch. She stood close to him. Her hair tied back in a chignon, her simple blue homespun dress crisp and clean, she looked lovely. All grown up.

  “It’s good to have you home, Pa,” she said. “I know Mother will be very glad of your news, too.”

  “That she will. She’ll be glad to see all of us.” Charley took the initiative and wrapped his arms around Catherine and kissed the top of her head. “It’s good to be back,” he said.

  Catherine hesitated, then wrapped her arms around his neck. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d held his daughter in his arms. Most likely when she’d been a toddler. It was mighty good to hold her in a warm hug again.

  “I understand you’ve passed your exams. So, you’re off to school to learn how to become a teacher this September. Your mother will be very proud of you.”

  “And you, Pa? Are you proud?”

  “Yes. I’m just beginning to see what a right-minded family I have here.”

  Seth secured the horses and tethered them so they wouldn’t bolt while the wagon was being unloaded. The new, large, black mare, Midnight, was still a little skittish and tended to bolt if he wasn’t reigned in properly.

  “I have chores to do, Pa. Maggie and Catherine will have supper ready in a bit. In the meantime, I’m sure they’ll have some coffee waiting inside.”

  Charley clapped his hands on Seth’s shoulders. “You’ve done well here, my boy. I’m proud of you, too. You and Catherine have dealt with more than your fair share this summer. I’m sorry to have put you in such an awkward position.”

  Seth took the compliment in stride. Hearing his father finally admit he’d done a good job on the farm made his words all the more welcome.

  “Thanks, Pa. I feel it’s in my blood. Just like those trains are in yours.”

  “I’m mighty glad. I understand your ma likes it out west being with her cousin Marybelle. It’s been good for her health. So, we’ll join her out there. As soon as I settle things here and get everyone ready to go, we’ll be on our way.”

  Did his father mean for him to go, too? To leave everything he had worked so hard for and start all over again? And what about Anna Louise? He couldn’t up and leave her behind. Surely his father understood what she meant to him. He’d already told him about their plans. And Catherine? What about her plans? Seth’s mind raced as he searched for words to tell his father he didn’t want to leave Candor. He wanted to stay and work the farm. He had such plans for improving produce, reaching bigger markets farther away, and even contemplated taking a position on the Agriculture Society Board. Buying more land. He was making a name for himself in the community. He couldn’t leave now.

  “Now don’t get your knickers in a bunch, Seth,” his father chuckled before Seth could protest. “I can see you haven’t grasped what I’m talking about. Fact is, the farm is yours. I’ll never be a farmer like you. Just don’t have it in me, son.”

  His father shook his head and clasped his shoulder harder.

  “Aderley
promised to do good by me if I stayed loyal to the railroad during the strike,” he said. He pursed his lips. “The man actually kept his word, by gum. He’s agreed to pay for the rest of us to transfer all our belongings to San Francisco. Seems they need someone at the other end of the line to take care of the Pennsylvania Railroad’s concerns. Mr. Aderley rode the rails out west to fetch his wife and bring his family back home safely. Things are growing by leaps and bounds out there, and he needs someone to keep things going at that end. They’ll set up an office in San Francisco for me if I’m interested. I’m going to check it out while I’m there. I’ll have an honest to goodness desk job. Won’t have to spend much time at the tracks. And I’ll be making a decent wage for a change.”

  “What about Catherine?” Seth wondered what would become of her teaching. “Like I told you, she’s taken her exams and is already enrolled in the fall teaching program.”

  “I’ll need her to help me with the children on the train, of course. It’ll be a good experience for her. Give her something she’ll be able to use in her teaching. She can spend time with us, then return home in time for the semester if she’s a mind to.”

  Catherine, like Seth, was finding their father’s ultimatum hard to swallow, if the tears in her eyes were any indication. Her large eyes stared past their father at the roof of the barn.

  “Think of this as a well-deserved holiday for all of your hard work this summer,” their father said, trying to soften the blow.

  With his father taking all the children with him, Seth didn’t know how he was going to manage without Timothy, or even Michael’s help. Seth had depended on Timothy to be there every step of the way, and his brother hadn’t disappointed. It was past time he told Timothy so. Seth didn’t want Timothy to wait so long to be told how proud someone was of him and just how much his hard work was appreciated. His brother needed to know he was growing into a fine worker before he headed out west with the family. Darn it. This couldn’t have come at a worse time. Harvest was fast approaching. He would need all the help he could get. He’d have to see who else besides the Hayland boys he could hire.

  Timothy’s indignation smoldered. Once a mild mannered boy, Seth had seen the boy start to turn into a man over the summer. So he wasn’t surprised when Timothy spoke up.

  “I don’t want to go west, Pa. I’ll go out to visit Ma with the rest of you, but I’ll come back with Catherine. She’ll be needing a chaperone on her return trip. Seth needs me here. I like it here. What will I do out at a lumber camp anyways?”

  “For one thing, you can help your cousin William with logging.”

  “I’m not a logger, Pa. I like farming just fine.”

  Seth looked from one to the other in the silence. He was proud Timothy had courage enough to speak up.

  “I’m relieved to hear you say you like farming, Timothy,” Seth said, then faced his father, unable to hold his tongue any longer. “I sure could use his help, Pa. Like I said earlier, Timothy has been a big help around here. Couldn’t have managed without him. Don’t know how I will if he goes. Let him go visit Ma, and chaperone Catherine on the return trip. As long as he’s back before harvest. I’ll be able to manage.”

  His father pondered the situation before he gave his answer.

  “It seems my sons are growing up with minds of their own. Guess it was bound to happen sooner or later. Can’t say I was counting on it happening so soon. We’ve all had to make difficult decisions on the heels of this damn railroad strike. Damned trains. They’ve taken too much out of our family as it is. I’ve gotta say starting over in the California Territory will be like a breath of fresh air.”

  “We’re really making a go of it right here in Candor, Pa,” Seth said, hands on hips, both feet planted firmly on solid ground.

  Timothy and the others stood in silence waiting for their father to say something. For all his bravado of a moment ago, Timothy hung his head, his long, skinny arms dangled at his sides, his fists balled. Timothy wouldn’t go against his father no matter how much he wanted to stay on the farm.

  “Well, I suppose Timothy is old enough to make his own decisions. If the fool boy wants to stay behind, so be it. Can’t force him to do work he don’t like. Lord knows I’ve been at it long enough.” He turned to face Timothy.

  “If you want to stay behind and be a farmer, it’s your choice,” their father stated, his staunch features showing his displeasure. “Seeing as Aderley’s paying the fare, you can come on out and visit your ma and return with Catherine. I like the idea of you chaperoning her on the return trip. Just can’t tell about the West. I’m not liking the tales I’m hearing about young ladies traveling all alone out there and being abducted and never seen again.” Charley nodded his approval. He faced Catherine, sighed, and said, “It’s settled. We’ll leave Saturday morning on the eight-fifteen train out of Candor. Should give everyone plenty of time to gather up your belongings and say your goodbyes.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  The week flew by for the Carmichael and the Flanagan families. Seamus traveled to town with Charley to see about a job on the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad in Candor. Mr. Benson received word from Mason Aderley, as promised, and Mr. Benson hired Seamus on the spot. Instead of having to ride the rails, Seamus was now responsible for the functions around the depot and station area, including signals and making sure the trains left on time. He was the go-between for the engineers and the station master. Seamus was glad of the work, as well, and before the week was out, he was on the job.

  Charley rode to town to send a telegraph to Emily saying he’d be coming out to get her as soon as he tied things up at home. He didn’t mention that the children would be accompanying him. He wanted to surprise her. She’d be over the moon with excitement when they stepped from the train for sure. Instead, he sent a separate telegram message to Marybelle so they’d know to expect the lot of them. He also told her he planned to be settling out west for good. Marybelle had offered her home to his family for as long as they needed to get back on their feet. With what Mason Aderley promised him in a pay raise, it shouldn’t take too long.

  While in Candor, Charley stopped at the Mitchell’s to thank them for taking Catherine in for the coming school semester and to make a down payment for her lodging once the winter weather set in. He had hoped to meet Anna Louise, but she and her mother were off attending a Women’s Christian Temperance Union meeting at the Candor Town Hall. The girl sounded too highfalutin for Seth. However, if Seth loved the girl, then there wasn’t much he could do. Seth didn’t imbibe anyway, so it shouldn’t be a fly in the ointment between the two of them. From the looks of her home life though, Charley couldn’t picture Anna Louise living on a farm. That might be a speck of dust in the eye, if anything. Seth would have to figure that one out for himself.

  Passage for everyone had already been taken care of, and the packing was coming along. Maggie had made sure the laundry was done and ironed for the overnight bags, and the rest of the children’s belongings were packed neatly in her own trunks for Charley to use going west.

  “The trunks can come back with Catherine and Timothy on their return trip, they can,” she told him with a smile.

  “That’s kind of you, Maggie,” Charley said. He pulled out a chair and sat at the kitchen table where Seamus was already seated. “You’ve done so much for my family already. I wish you were coming along. I’d like Emily to meet you. I’m sure she’d like to thank you personally for helping out with the children.”

  “Perhaps someday.” Maggie shrugged her shoulders. She drew a fresh loaf of bread from the oven and placed it on a cutting board. “I’m not so anxious to leave my Seamus behind again for a while. Besides, I’m not sure I could stomach the train ride for such a long period of time. If Seamus is happy in his new job with the trains here in Candor, then it’s fine by me.” She reached for the bread knife above the dry sink and the freshly churned butter.

  The yeasty aroma filled the kitchen, and Charley’s t
aste buds couldn’t wait to bite into the crunchy goodness. “Some lines are more responsible for their employees than others,” he said, helping himself to a slice and slathering it with the butter Maggie sat on the table. “In the end, Aderley found he actually had a heart and showed compassion for his workers. Be glad Seamus doesn’t work as a coal miner. Their lives are far worse. They’re still striking, and I don’t blame them. Their children are dying alongside them in those cold, dark mines.”

  “It’s too gruesome to contemplate,” Seamus said.

  Maggie set a cup of coffee on the table for Charley and her husband. Charley poured a good dollop of fresh cream in his cup and swirled it together with his spoon. Seamus did the same.

  “You should be aware little Sarah might be a handful on the train,” Maggie said. “Being cooped up in such a tiny space for so long, she’ll need time to run around when you make stops along the way.”

  “I’m sure Catherine can manage,” Charley said, then picked up his cup and sipped the steaming brew. “After all, she’ll be dealing with children when she becomes a teacher. She might just as well get a full dose now. I’m sure the boys won’t sit still for long, either.”

  Michael and Robert were about the same age as the Aderley boys. They’d need careful tending, no doubt. “I’m sure Timothy will be a big help, too.”

  “I’ve made a bit of biscuits and cakes to be taking with ya. They should last a good portion of your trip if ya dole them out careful like. I’ve prepared a bag for each of ya.”

  “Seamus was right, Ma’am. You do keep things running smoothly. I’m grateful you’ll be staying on here with Seth. He’ll be thankful for your help.”

  “I’m glad to have a place to live until we see our way clear of setting up our own home in town.”

  “Don’t be too quick to decide. You might want to check with Seth. I’m sure he’ll be happy to have you stay on as cook and housekeeper as long as you like.” Charley raised the cup to his mouth and took a long swallow. “You make a great cup of coffee, Maggie. Your Seamus is a lucky man.”